Real Simple’s Best Time-Saving Tips

Reed Davis

1 of 30Yunhee Kim

Food Tips

“My Real Simpleeasy doughnuts recipe is tattered, torn, and covered with grease spots―that’s how much I love it. With little more than a can of biscuits, I can start our weekend with a hot, delicious treat.”

Top Gadget

“As opposed as I am to most kitchen gadgets (really, who has the room?), I’m enamored of my julienne peeler from our chopping-tool road test. It makes professional-looking strips of carrots, cucumbers, and potatoes in seconds.”

Allie Lewis ClappReal Simple Food Director

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7 of 30 Kang Kim

Health Tips

“Asking my doctor’s office to fax or e-mail any forms a few days before a visit, then filling them out beforehand, has made my medical appointments start on time, not to mention run much more smoothly.”

Nancy SmithSimsbury, Connecticut

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8 of 30Monica Buck

Stretching Solution

“I run for an hour during lunch. There’s a hill I wanted to reach the top of, but I always had to turn around to get back to work on time. Then I read in Real Simple that I don’t have to stretch before I exercise, only afterward. With those extra five mintues, I finally tackled the hill!”

Liz MerhigeBerkeley, California

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9 of 30Monica Buck

Green Tea Refresher

“I knew that green tea was packed with antioxidants, but who knew it freshened breath? Ever since you revealed its multitasking qualities, I no longer have to search for mints in a pinch!”

Hair Repair

Shaving Solution

“My favorite tip is using hair conditioner as shaving gel. It’s inexpensive, and it means one less bottle in the shower. Ultimately, shaving is less of an ordeal, and, believe me, everyone is happier when I keep up on my shaving.”

Christy SievertMinneapolis

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18 of 30Susie Cushner

SPF Smarts

“My ultimate time-saver is truly simple, and something we tell readers often. I use face lotion with SPF every day. It makes my skin instantly smoother and softer, and SPF is hands down the smartest way to prevent wrinkles.”

Family Organizer

“By the time I had two kids in school, I was buried in papers. So I followed Real Simple’s advice and got a three-hole punch and made a binder with a section for each family member. I swear it turned our lives around.”

Wallet Wisdom

“After I read that a brightly colored wallet is easier to spot in a handbag, I bought one in fire-engine red. Now, as soon as I open my bag, I can’t miss it.”

Beth Gissinger-RiveraFairhaven, Massachusetts

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27 of 30Keate

Lost and Found

“When I read the tip about pinning socks together with a safety pin before throwing them in the wash, it was like the clouds parted. I can’t believe I wasted all that time searching for missing socks when all I needed was a simple pin.”

Maria CicioOmaha

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28 of 30Monica Buck

No Iron Necessary

“Half of the clothes in my closet are wrinkled, but hauling out the iron isn’t an option because I’m pressed (ha!) for time. So I was thrilled to read about The Laundress Crease Release spray. Now I just spritz my crumpled clothing, then smooth out the wrinkles with my hands. Brilliant!”

Betsy PerezBloomfield, New Jersey

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29 of 30Fernando Milani

Spin Dry

“I like to hand wash my cashmere, but it can take days to dry. Then Real Simple told me about the salad spinner. Just put a wet sweater into a large salad spinner, pull the cord, and the excess water releases in seconds.”

Laura FarrellyEugene, Oregon

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30 of 30James Baigrie

Successful Shopping

“Shopstyle.com wasn’t on my radar until we did a story on it. Now I can find whatever I’m looking for. A recent search for ‘leather jacket’ turned up 1,581 results!”